Commutes to Redmond (Renton, Sammamish, Mill Creek: home, living, move)

[lmealing]

Looking for information about the commute from Renton Highlands to Redmond (Union Hill/Avondale area).

Times of day I'm interested in are 9am/5pm and 7am/3pm.

Thank you.

[Ira500]

There's not going to be a lot of difference between going in at 7 or at 9. It'll be bad at both times coming from Renton Highlands, but worse coming home in the afternoon. 40-50 minutes in the morning, 40-90 in the afternoon. If there's no traffic at all, you can do it in 25 minutes. But 405 you can count on to have lots of traffic, and if you took surface streets, the traffic will move but it's just longer and slower.

[lmealing]

Is there times around the regular work schedule that would be better?

[Ira500]

Originally Posted by lmealing

Is there times around the regular work schedule that would be better?

Only if you go in 6 ish or 9:30 or later. But for whatever reason, it's always worse coming back in the afternoon on 405. My wife used to work in Redmond( we live in Renton),and it always took her a long time to get home except when she got off late( after 6:30 PM).

[Blondebaerde]

Others nailed it. More affirmation:

Buddy of mine worked out an interesting side-street route to avoid 405 heading home (south) in the evening. He lives in Renton. And, he rode from west of OP's intended area, more like south on 148th at 51st (in Redmond) to Bel Red, SW on Bel Red to...blah blah etc. etc.

OP would probably get on 520 going counter-commute (west/south) in the evening and get bogged down at 148th exit, near 405 N/S, a disaster zone from there on out south or north. Nuh uh. In fact I cannot offhand think of a way that angles south from Union Hill/Avondale to avoid most of that, though such a thing may exist. The lake is in the way, as is Marymoor Park at the north end.

My buddy's side street route got him to the trestle at SE 8th, from there it was 405 south via commute lane. Once on the downslope of Kennydale Hill (south slope) it just seemed easier to deal with.

The above is via motorcycle, btw. Quite the efficient route, and a marginal improvement on 405, but side streets are side streets and never "fast."

Motorcycle or not, that 405 south thing is just a bummer during any kind of commute hours. Always has been, since '99 or so when I arrived. The sole reason I would never considered living south of I-90, while working primarily eastside.

It's an hour, average, during commute hours going home. 45 minutes inbound, roughly. Mill Creek, opposite end, was similar: that, I did for many years and never enjoyed it. I always worked odd hours when I was out Avondale/Union Hill way to avoid all of that traffic drama, ten years ago.

[lmealing]

Looking at traffic right now (3:30PM) via E Lake Sammamish to the 900, it is only 35~ minutes. Anyone know how that route fairs?

[Polymorphist]

I would lobby very hard with your employer to start work from home in the mornings with an agreement that you'll start traveling at 10am. Then, i'd try and get out of they by 3pm and finish the day at home. This, of course, if they give you RAS access (if you are not FTE). You're life will be happier this way.

[lmealing]

My husband's hours are pretty flexible, just needs to work around when he gets scheduled into meetings for the most part so commute times don't have to be standard. If we're looking at hour plus commutes both on the 405 and E Lake Sammamish, the area probably won't work, but I keep seeing shorter times with the E Lake Sammamish route. Would love to hear experience from someone who commutes this route as well to compare.

He'd likely be fine with anything from 7-10am to 3-6pm if that helps.